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Monday, April 24, 2017

The Factor

After reading a book by a former producer, I learned O'Reilly is responsible for every word of his now former FOX News Channel broadcast. He either wrote it at a computer, scribbled it out on a note pad, or dictated it to a secretary of producer.

If you read a transcript of his show, and didn't know the author, you would think it was coming from a moderate, reasonable individual.

He is smart, and informed, and he knew how to draw an audience. For 20 years, O'Reilly was the signature voice and face of the network.

Unfortunately, good broadcaster doesn't translate into being a good person. O'Reilly denies all the harassment allegations and I get that. You have to admit there's an awful lot of evidence against him. You can forgive a mistake. Overlooking a distinct and long standing pattern is an entirely different story.

FOX News let O'Reilly go last week.

He doesn't need the money, but I'm sure Bill O'Reilly will re-surface somewhere. I think his network days are done, at least for a while. He could sign with a TV station group, or syndicate a show on his own. He'd be perfect on Sunday mornings.

There was a radio version of the O'Reilly Factor. It didn't last long. O'Reilly went up against Rush Limbaugh, a tough time slot. For the most part, Limbaugh had all the decent stations locked up. That has changed, so the climate is right for O'Reilly to take another shot at it. Podcasting to the masses is always an option. There is already a subscription only podcast.

There is a place in the media world for Bill O'Reilly. There has to be some serious image rehabilitation, responsibility taking, and some daring sponsors first.